Four months into Valletta’s year as European Capital of Culture, there’s no shortage of fun and interesting events on the V18 calendar.
Here are just some that you shouldn’t miss this April.
The Strange Travels of Señor Tonet
28th March – 8th April, Esplora, Kalkara / Valletta
Barcelona-based artists Tombs Creatius present a curiosity fair full of fun, interactive mechanical installations, led by Señor Tonet, who introduces the many creatures encountered on his wondrous journeys by means of individual installations set inside a box.
European Eyes on Japan
31st March – 29th April, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta
A visual arts project led by artistic director Mikiko Kikuta, European Eyes on Japan is an exhibition by Maltese photographer Alexandra Pace and photographer Alice Wielinga, who hails from Malta’s twin European Capital of Culture 2018, Leeuwarden-Fryslân. Both photographers lived and work in Japan, and, for the exhibition, have sought to capture the country’s lifestyle through a European lens.
2018 Accordion Festival
3rd – 4th April, Corinthia Palace Hotel, Attard
Organised by the Santa Maria Accordion Band in Malta, the 2018 Accordion Festival brings local and international musicians together for two large-scale concerts dedicated to bringing the unique sound of the accordion to audiences worldwide.
Il-Festa l-Kbira
6th – 7th April, Valletta & Senglea
This one-off event sees Valletta’s four main feasts and two band clubs join forces to create a huge street celebration. Set around celebrative Catholic rituals, the event features the traditional processions, decorations, brass band music and atmosphere associated with a typical Maltese feast.
The International Spring Orchestra Festival 2018
6th – 14th April, Valletta
Now in its 12th edition, the International Spring Orchestra Festival is nine days of classical music performances by acclaimed international and Maltese artists. The ISO Festival is produced in collaboration with Festivals Malta and the Valletta 2018 Foundation.
Circuits 2018 – An electronic music conference and concert
7th April, St James Cavalier, Valletta
Led by the voluntary organisation Electronic Music Malta, the Circuits 2018 conference showcases a mix of arts, music and technology related to electronic music performance and production. The event will also feature an interactive music installation, a series of talks and a performance by two international electronic music artists.
A Night with Bernstein
7th April, Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta
In a concert marking the centenary since the birth of great American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra showcases the many influences that created his distinct musical style, and that of other 20th century American classical composers.
Calypso Project: Stories of Islands
7th April, Blue Box Theatre, Msida
Calypso Project: Stories of Islands takes audiences on a musical journey through 12 Mediterranean Islands, discovering each island’s unique story through music, words, food and musical instruments.
Modern Music Days – Kantilena Procession
7th – 8th April, Ta’ Bistra Catacombs, Mosta
With the support and collaboration of Heritage Malta, Dutch composer Luc Houtkamp shares his site-specific electronic music soundscapes accompanied by violinist Brianne Curran, featuring the heritage site at Ta’ Bistra Catacombs as an integral part of the performance.
Motus: a photographic exhibition
12th – 21st April, Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School, Naxxar
Belgian photographer Jim Sumkay presents an indoor and outdoor exhibition of more than 300 photographs displaying unusual situations that demonstrate the relation between the written word and an image.
The 12th Mechanised Ground Fireworks Festival
13th – 14th April, St Publius Square, Floriana
Organised by Floriana Local Council, the 12th edition of the Mechanised Ground Fireworks Festival, known locally as ‘Nar tal-Art’, will this year be held on the eve of the feast of St Publius, Floriana’s Patron Saint. The festival features complex and spectacular ground firework shows produced by several Maltese fireworks factories.
Mods Collective: Meet Cecil Satariano
15th April, Spazju Kreattiv (Upper Galleries), Valletta
‘Music on D Spot’, or ‘MODS’, describes the mission of this collective of Portuguese musicians, which is to create improvised music with intimate connections to cinematic moving images. This edition explores the work of Malta’s award-winning filmmaker, Cecil Satariano, with the support of the Valletta 2018 Foundation.
Malta International Music Festival 2018
15th April – 1st May, Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta / Robert Samut Hall, Floriana
In the 2018 edition of one of Malta’s most notable classical music festivals, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as many internationally-acclaimed musicians, will lead a varied programme ranging from piano recitals to symphonic orchestral concerts. The Festival is produced by the MPO in collaboration with the European Foundation for Support of Culture (EFSC) and supported by the Valletta 2018 Foundation.
Apocalypse Trio / Vincenzo Deluci
20th April, Sir Temi Zammit Hall, University of Malta Campus, Msida
The brainchild of three Apulian musical navigators Vincenzo Deluci, Camillo Pace and Giuseppe Mariani, the Apocalypse Trio combines acoustic and electronic instruments to create new electro-jazz music with a contemporary feel.
Design & Technology Expo @ The Malta Robotics Olympiad
20th – 22nd April, Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre, Ta’ Qali
The Malta Robotics Olympiad is Malta’s major annual event for design, technology and education. For the special 2018 edition, the Valletta Design Cluster will be partnering with the Design and Technology Learning Centre as well as the Valletta 2018 Foundation, to bring together educational institutions, technology and innovation-driven enterprises as well as private exhibitors, in a packed programme of events.
Rock the South 2018
20th – 22nd April. Zion Bar, Marsascala
The 6th edition of this popular annual music festival, which is a staple of the Maltese alternative music scene, will include an exclusive one-night event named ‘Rock the City’ to celebrate Valletta 2018, featuring an exciting line-up of alternative acts and DJ sets.
The Malta International Fireworks Festival 2018 – Where Fire and Culture Meet
21st – 30th April, Around Malta and Gozo
The 17th edition of Malta’s major annual fireworks festival will be a fusion of fireworks spectacles with local cultural aspects and traditions, in honour of V18. Inspired by traditional Maltese feasts, some of the fireworks displays will even be accompanied by live singing and an orchestra.
The Power of Storytelling
27th – 28th April, Central Public Library, Floriana
This National Literacy Agency project aims to raise awareness of the potential of storytelling as a learning tool, with a two-day programme of workshops, presentations and storytelling by renowned professional storyteller Nell Phoenix.
Science in the Citadel
28th April, Victoria, Gozo
A one-day festival staged in Gozo’s magnificent central Citadel, ‘Science in the Citadel’ celebrates the best of science and technology innovation, research and practice on the Maltese islands, featuring exciting experiments, demonstrations and workshops to be enjoyed by the whole family.
For more info, be sure to visit the official Valletta 2018 website!